NZ-EU trade deal is economically and strategically important in world on brink of trade war

Dr Cecilia Malmström, European Union Commissioner for Trade at podium in Beehive Theatrette with Trade Minister David Parker. Photo by Lynn Grieveson

European Union trade commissioner Cecilia Malmström says a trade deal with New Zealand is economically and strategically important for the massive European market in a world on the verge of a trade war reports Rebecca Howard for Newsroom.

In a visit to Wellington to formally launch trade talks she repeatedly voiced concerns about trade issues that have roiled markets in recent weeks after the US Donald Trump administration imposed steel and aluminium tariffs and the US and China stepped up their rhetoric.

“We are very worried about this, of course, it could escalate to a full trade war which would be bad for the whole world," she said. "We are worried that countries are acting outside the rules." . . .